Ramón retreated to the storage room, but Oliver lingered. My gaze drifted to him as his body stiffened. The tendons and veins in his neck and arms stood out against his skin, and his fingers curled into fists. His jaw clenched and red splotches appeared on his cheek.
I hesitated as Guadalupe tugged impatiently on my hand. I was about to ask Oliver if he was all right when he abruptly strode out of the kitchen. I heard the restaurant door open and close with his departure.
Where is he going? Worry raced through me, but Guadalupe squeezed my hand, her anxious eyes peering up at me. I exhaled, releasing my concerns for Oliver. He can take care of himself.
Guadalupe pulled me toward a spot against the wall. I slid to the floor, and she snuggled against my chest. I rested my cheek on the top of her head as her sweet scent enveloped me. My eyes closed with contentment, and I was asleep within minutes.
I WOKE TO THE SOUND of low murmuring outside my door. Magic prickled around me, awakening me from my sleepy stupor. Curious, I climbed out of bed and shuffled toward my door. Slowly, I cracked it open.
My father sat alone on the sofa as he uttered an incantation. I was too young to understand all the words, but I knew “healing” and “powers” and “in front of me.” It was the same spell Kismet used when I split open my lip after falling on the concrete steps outside.
“What are you doing up, sweetheart?” Dad asked without turning around.
I gasped. How did he know I was there?
“Come sit with me.”
I hurried to sit with him on the sofa but stopped short, my breath catching in my throat at the sight of the blood on his arm. A bright blue glow covered his fingertips as he pressed them against the wound. When he removed his hand, only smooth, unblemished skin peeked out from the hole in his shirt.
“You’re hurt,” I said quietly.
Dad leaned forward, his warm, brown eyes level with mine. “Not anymore. It’s healed now.”
“What happened?”
Dad pushed his horn-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose and sighed. “Just Demonhunting as usual.”
“Do you get hurt like this all the time?”
Dad smiled and shook his head, lifting me up to sit on his lap. “No, but this time someone else needed my help.”
“Why did you have to get hurt, though?”
“Because I turned back.”
“But why?” My lower lip stuck out. If he hadn’t turned back, maybe he wouldn’t have gotten hurt.
Dad kissed my forehead and pressed his cheek against the top of my head. “If I hadn’t, this person could have died.”
I stiffened and gasped again. “Daddy, that’s scary.”
“I know. It was scary for my friend too.”
“So you saved him?”
“We saved each other. I couldn’t leave him there. One day, you’ll understand.”
I fell silent, leaning back against Dad’s chest and savoring his warm cinnamon scent that often helped me drift off to sleep. His arms wrapped around me, holding me in a soothing embrace. Sleepiness settled over my eyes. And as I succumbed to sleep, my last thought was of how proud I was of my father, who sacrificed himself to save others.
“Desi, get up,” a quiet voice hissed.
My eyes snapped open. Dried tears stuck to my cheeks. I could still smell my father next to me. My heart clenched as his familiar scent faded away like a distant memory. Don’t leave yet. Don’t leave.
But soon it was gone.
Guadalupe snored softly against my shoulder, her hands wrapped around my arm. I blinked and looked up.
Standing over me, Manuel put a finger to his lips and waved his hand urgently. I carefully extracted myself from Guadalupe and followed Manuel into the storage room. Oliver, Elena, Alba, Ramón, and a few others I didn’t recognize stood between several cots, muttering frantically. Oliver gestured wildly with his hands. Ramón’s arms were crossed, his thick eyebrows lowered as he scowled silently. Elena’s jaw clenched as she looked from Oliver to Alba, her eyes somber.
Manuel and I approached, and Oliver fell silent. His eyes darted to me and then away quickly as if he hadn’t meant to meet my gaze.
Still upset with me, I see, I thought glumly.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Alba had a vision,” Elena explained grimly. “Demons are on their way to us right now, ready to attack.”
Chapter 21
“WHAT?” MY STOMACH DROPPED, my gaze shifting to Alba.
“We’re trying to decide the best way to evacuate the refugees without attracting too much attention,” Alba said.
I glanced toward the kitchen, thinking of Guadalupe. Fear snaked through my stomach and up my chest. “I thought demons can’t sense mortals.”
Alba shook her head. “Most of them can’t, but the mortals are probably not their targets.”
My eyes widened. “They’re attacking the coven?”
“Somehow, they’ve found us,” Alba said. “My protection spells were strong, but the demons are stronger. It was only a matter of time.”
“They probably tracked her,” Elena said, jabbing a finger toward me. “She doesn’t cloak herself very well.”
“El Diablo has tasted her blood,” Oliver said, clapping a hand to his forehead. “I should have known.”
My skin prickled, and my heart rate accelerated. “Why does that matter?”
“He can smell your blood,” Alba said darkly. “He knows its scent now.” Her eyes closed briefly. “I didn’t think of it, either.”
Muffled voices arose from the kitchen. The refugees were waking up. Guadalupe’s bright smile shone in my head, and I swallowed. “If they’re tracking me, then let me lure them somewhere else.”
“Desi,” Alba said warningly.
“No, we don’t have time to move the civilians, and even if we did, it would be too many people to protect at once. The mortals are protected here. If it’s the coven they want, let’s bring the fight to them.”
Silence greeted my suggestion. Alba and Ramón exchanged glances. Elena’s eyes darted between them, her eyebrows furrowed. Oliver watched me, his eyes hard. I tried not to recoil from his stern gaze,
